| Speaking Notes for Hon. Dr. Wyekham McNeil for Press Conference on the China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Forum |
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| 2005-02-08 16:25 |
Your Excellency, Honourable An Min, Vice-Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China
Colleague Ministers of Government from the Caribbean
Distinguished Delegates
Members of the Press Corps
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Afternoon,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you here this afternoon to outline some of the significant achievements of this inaugural China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum which the Governments of Jamaica and the People’s Republic of China have had the honour to host over the past two days. China and the countries of the Caribbean have enjoyed very warm and friendly relations over the years and we are confident that this Economic and Trade Forum and the attendant Trade Fair being held at the National Arena, will serve to broaden the scope of these relations at all levels and particularly in the areas of trade, economic and technical cooperation.
The importance of the Economic and Trade Forum has been reflected both in terms of the high-level of representation and in the diverse array of participants from government and the private sector in China and the Caribbean. The Forum was organised in two parts to enable a government to government exchange and a business conference.
During the government to government exchange yesterday, high-level statements were delivered by the Vice-President of China, H. E. Zeng Qinghong, and the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the strengthening of relations between China and the Caribbean and the objectives of the inaugural Economic and Trade Forum.
It should be noted that two agreements were signed at the inter-governmental level namely, a Guiding Framework of Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Caribbean and an Approved Destination Status Memorandum.
The Guiding Framework attests to the specific areas of trade, economic and technical cooperation that will be developed within the scope of the Economic and Trade Forum process. It was signed by 11 Caribbean countries and the People’s Republic of China.
The Approved Destination Status Memorandum reflects the official recognition that has been accorded by the Chinese Government to designated Caribbean countries with regard to tourism and leisure travel by citizens of the People’s Republic. It was signed by four Caribbean countries namely, Antigua and Barbuda, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Jamaica and St. Lucia in addition to the People’s Republic of China.
The intergovernmental exchange also facilitated discussions on matters pertaining to trade and investment, human resource development, agriculture and fisheries, science and technology, finance, tourism and transportation. Participants from the China and the Caribbean expressed appreciation for the opportunity to exchange information on developments in their respective sectors and resolved to continue their interaction by way of the networking alliances that had been established.
Today’s business conference reflected excellent participation by senior representatives of the Chinese and Caribbean business community. Following an opening ceremony that was chaired jointly by Mrs. Patricia Francis, President of JAMPRO and Mr. Yu Ping, Vice ? Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the conference was divided into two Seminars which were held concurrently. One Seminar focussed on, “How to Trade with China” while the other reflected on the, “Caribbean Investment Environment”.
In the Seminar on, “How to Trade with China” various presenters facilitated discussions on the areas of manufacturing, finance, Caribbean Industry, Information Technology and Caribbean Logistics. Business leaders acknowledged that the Chinese economy had witnessed tremendous growth in recent years and that this had contributed to a dynamic private sector with operations in many sectors of interest to their Caribbean counterparts.
The Seminar on the “Caribbean Investment Environment” enabled participants to reflect on the enabling framework for investment in the region, the experience of global investors in the Caribbean, telecommunications and services and potential challenges for investors in the region. This Seminar also benefited from a Cuban perspective on China-Caribbean Economic Cooperation as well as strategies for structuring Chinese-Caribbean business partnerships.
I consider the inaugural China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Forum to have been a tremendous success. Today alone, we had over 500 Caribbean representatives in attendance and while the presentations were very stimulating, the real energy was in the match-making sessions where there were 100 Caribbean companies and 44 Chinese entities. From this encounter, 330 business meetings were held and I am sure that the foundation for many successful partnerships was forged.
This clearly reflects an auspicious beginning to a new dimension in Chinese?Caribbean relations and I look forward to even greater developments in the years ahead.
I thank you.
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